The phrase “the Body of Christ” is a common New Testament metaphor for the Church, or all those who are followers of Christ.
When Jesus Christ entered our world, He took on a physical body “prepared” for Him (Hebrews 10:5; Philippians 2:7). Through His physical body, Jesus demonstrated the love of God clearly, tangibly, and boldly—especially through the cross (Romans 5:8). After His resurrection and ascension, Christ continues His work in the world through the Church. Now we demonstrate the love of God clearly, tangibly, and boldly. In this way, the Church functions as “the Body of Christ.” The new physical representation of Christ in this world can not be done as an individual for two simple reasons. 1) God didn’t choose to do it that way but instead chose setup The Church and 2) To think you can be apart of the kingdom of God but separate in every way from the church is to say that you are the fullness of Christ only and God has now made an exception for you and you are exempt from His purpose of The Church. This idea is the height of self righteousness and delusion.
The Church is the Body of Christ because its members…
1) Are joined to Christ in salvation (Ephesians 4:15-16).
2) Follow Christ as their Head (Ephesians 1:22-23).
3) Are the physical representation of Christ in this world. The Church is the organism through which Christ manifests His life to the world today (1 Corinthians 12:27)How .
4) Are filled with and by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).
5) Each possesses a diverse of gift suited to particular functions (1 Corinthians 12:4-31).
6) Common bond with all others in The Body, regardless of background, race, dislike, hurt and pain, frustration or anything else you can think of - Christ trumps it all (1 Corinthians 12:25).
7) Partake of Christ’s death and resurrection (Colossians 2:12).
- 1 Corinthians 10:17
- Romans 12:5
- Ephesians 4:12
- Ephesians 5:23
- Colossians 1:24
- John 17:20-24
- John 6:53
- Hebrews 13:3